THC Prevents Brain Damage In Rats, Study Shows

Marijuana’s active ingredient may prevent brain damage associated with harmful substances, according to new research.

Published this month in the open-access journal PLOS One, the study found that treatment with THC could prevent brain damage in rats caused by neurotoxic doses of methamphetamine.

The authors, a group of neuroscientists at the University of Cagliari in Italy, said the study was the first to investigate the effect of THC on meth-induced brain damage.

“In the present study, we showed that Δ9-THC, the principal constituent of cannabis, attenuates the neurotoxic effect of meth by reducing two markers of neuronal damage,” wrote the authors.

THC was found to lower inflammation and oxidative stress, both which are primary factors in neurotoxicity.